The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03
OLIVES LOVER.

There is short story told by Goldsmith OF
a man who lived double life, adding to his
more material existence second, and so far
as he was concerned equally real. existence In
dreamland. Unlike the visions OF others, his
dreams followed one another in well con-
tinued series, till hc only woke to eat drink,
md loiter away few harsh hours on earth
before plunging once again into the scenes OF
his ideal life. He loved, wooed, and that sue
cessfuly, the fair lady OF his dreams. They
lived together in happiness till al untoward
fate snatched her from him, and ho remained
alone and widowed. Under such circum-
stances rs these his lot became too hard to
bear. When awake he was unmarried and
lonely; when asleep, desolate and widower.
Gradually his strength failed him, and
though he still continued 10 alternate be-
tween one life and the other, the melancholy
which filed his sleeping hours pressed upon
him with such a heaviness that one morning
when they came to waken him he was found
dead. One mystery, of course, history can.
not solve Did he die in his dream, or did he
cease dreaming. But without waiting for
an answer to such question we may lay the
moral to heart, and remember not to lie Oh
or backs when we go to bed. Thus much by
prelude.
Ii was in tho suburbs Of one of our large
northern towns that the family lived which
provides the heroine of this story. Wander
ing up from the noisy highway there ran u
quiet lane, shaded to gloom with high trees,
which hid the houses from the passers by.
One of these houses was the residence of q
doctor with large femily, and still better,
with large practice Many as the children
were in number, the real center of the house
hold was fixed in the person of the second
daughter, Olive. Her sisters, indeed, were
good enough and pretty enough to serve as
attraction for many lawn tennis party, but
she seemed to stand apart from them rather
by certain indelinabe charm of manner and
power Of social sympathy than 10y reason Of
any peculiar gift of beauty. 10 such she
could scarcely lay claim, and though not de-
ficient in intelligence, she gained the reputa
ton as wit, while she failed in most Of the
little practical enterprises which she under-
took. Yet despite, and perhaps, almost in
consequence Of, these deficiencies, she contin-
ued to rule her sisters and parents, and SO to
madden the hearts Of all the youth Of the
suburb that they won't in their multitudes
to all the places where she played tennis, and
Duets when the neighborhood ventured on its
somewhat miniature balls. Yet, notwith-
standing all this, she at least remained heart
whole and free. So often had she to exercise
her prerogative of rejection that 1t seemed
hardly possible that she would ever be able to
fly in the face Of habit by answering sutton
in the affirmative.
For some time before the beginning Of our
- -, A..
nails of the family. One sister had been mar
ried and another became engaged, but Olive
lived on, contented and happy, oftenest, in
deed, quietly at home, but sometimes making
short rounds Of visits among friends.
On her return from one of these short tours
of courtesy her manner seemed as though it
had undergone change. The old quiet was
superseded by fltful restlessness, and though
she was still lively at times she loved best to
seek out quaint paths in the surrounding
country, where she might wander unOb-
served and unhurrled. She would come in
from her rambles flushed and bright, and
then would Join gayly in tue Outbursts Of
mirth 80 common In a large family But
the cause OF the change was soon revealed.
One morning she had wandered into the lane
before breakfast, and when she came back
she had brought the usual budget OF letters,
which she had taken from the postman at
the gate There was one which sha had hid
den in her pocket, only to rest there for
time, since no sooner was the meal over than
she darted of to read 1t in private, but shortly
afterward returned to her mother with her
version of the old, old story.
1t RON in this wise: While staying at
Swansea with some friends she had met q
young man, barrister. They had fallen in
love, but lie, as he had no means Of his own,
had striven, apparently with success, to con-
ceal his feelings; and ESQ they had parted
without any understanding, and indeed, ac-
cording to her, without any knowledge Of
their mutual attachment But now change
had come in his fortunes A distant rea.
tive had died in New Zealand, leaving him
heir to his sheep farm, which report had ex.
allied to a most fabulous value; yet even
after every method Of discount had been ex-
hausted there still remained enough to
make him a very wealthy man. No sooner
did be receive the news than lie wrote
a hasty letter to Olive, in which he be-
sought her to be his wife. He would, in
deed, have come down to the north him.
self, but the condition in which the estate
was left made it necessary for him to take q
short trip out, while the necessity OF settling
his affairs and making a few preparations
rendered the few hours still remaining before
the departure of the overland mail far too
short to allow Of his absence. 1t was q fine,
manly letter, and the few words that accom-.
panied il addressed to the parents made them
hesitate In their resolve to refuse, or post
pone, their consent till he could ask it in per-
SON. Thus Il was that on the eve Of his de-
parture hs received letter which gave him
the answer he wished.
Thenceforth he was swept on in his prepare
lions by hurricane OF joy, and yet, being
prudent aud barrister, unburdened by too
many briefs, he cultivated an acquaintance
with solicitor and made his will. This, at
least, be told her, and the reason which he as
signed was hardly such as to ease fond
heart, for hs wrote that lie wished to leave
her everything be had, in case IN accident OF
some kind should overtake him. But love
was not much dampsned by such forebodings,
and Olive seemed content with the written